Law Society and Land Registry sign e-conveyancing agreement

Friday 15 October 2004

Land Registry and the Law Society of England and Wales today, 15 October, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to co-operate on the development of the e-conveyancing programme.

Peter Collis, Chief Executive of Land Registry and Chief Land Registrar, and Edward Nally, President of the Law Society, formally signed the MoU at the Society’s annual conference, which is held in Birmingham this week.

It is the first formal recognition of the way in which the two organisations have worked together to deliver improvements to the home buying process through the electronic exchange of documents.

The MoU recognises the relationship between the Law Society and Land Registry and acknowledges the significant role that the Law Society and solicitors will continue to have in the e-conveyancing programme.

Law Society of England and Wales, Michael Thompson, tel: 020 7320 5884, e-mail: michael.thompson@lawsociety.org.uk

Author(s): The Law Society's Press Office

Already the number of electronic conveyancing searches made by solicitors on behalf of homebuyers in England and Wales has passed the three million milestone using National Land Information Service.

Peter Collis said:

"I am delighted to sign the MoU formalising the relationship between Land Registry and The Law Society. We have continually engaged with all our stakeholders on the development of the e-conveyancing programme and we look forward to continuing a close relationship with the Law Society and its members."

Edward Nally, Law Society President, said:

"The Law Society is convinced that an efficient electronic conveyancing system will make buying and selling property more streamlined and less complicated for all concerned.

"The theme of our annual conference is delivering solutions and this is a practical example of just that. The Law Society and Land Registry are devising a programme of events to promote and explain the potential benefits of e-conveyancing to solicitors.

"The move from paper to transactions on-line, combined with developments in the electronic transfer of funds and e-signatures, could create real opportunities for solicitors to play a key role in the development of a world leading service for homebuyers."

The two organisations are planning a series of joint events in 2005 to ensure that Law Society members are kept fully briefed on developments in e-conveyancing and are given up to date information about the range of services and their benefits.

Notes to editors


With the world’s largest property database, Land Registry underpins the economy by guaranteeing ownership of many billions of pounds worth of property. Around £1 million worth of property is processed every minute in England and Wales.

As a Government Department established in 1862, Executive Agency and Trading Fund responsible to the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor, Land Registry keeps and maintains the Land Register for England and Wales. There are 24 offices in England and Wales, each providing land registration services for different counties and unitary authorities. For more information about Land Registry, please visit its website at www.landregistry.gov.uk.

Solicitors requiring more information about e-conveyancing please visit the Land Registry website or email propertysection@lawsociety.org.uk.

The Law Society regulates and represents the solicitors’ profession in England and Wales and has a public interest role in working for reform of the law. Solicitors in Scotland and Northern Ireland are represented by the Law Societies in Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively.

For more information contact;

Land Registry, Liz Aelberry, tel: 020 7166 4487, e-mail liz.aelberry@landregistry.gsi.gov.uk or Marion Shelley, tel: 020 7166 4543 e-mail: marion.shelley@landregistry.gsi.gov.uk